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Development of a simulated lung fluid leaching method to assess the release of potentially toxic elements from volcanic ash

Tomašek, I.; Damby, D.E.; Stewart, C.; Horwell, C.J.; Plumlee, G.; Ottley, C.J.; Delmelle, P.; Morman, S.; Yazidi, S.E.L.; Claeys, P.; Kervyn, M.; Elskens, M.; Leermakers, M.

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Authors

I. Tomašek

D.E. Damby

C. Stewart

G. Plumlee

P. Delmelle

S. Morman

S.E.L. Yazidi

P. Claeys

M. Kervyn

M. Elskens

M. Leermakers



Abstract

Freshly erupted volcanic ash contains a range of soluble elements, some of which can generate harmful effects in living cells and are considered potentially toxic elements (PTEs). This work investigates the leaching dynamics of ash-associated PTEs in order to optimize a method for volcanic ash respiratory hazard assessment. Using three pristine (unaffected by precipitation) ash samples, we quantify the release of PTEs (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, Zn) and major cations typical of ash leachates (Mg, Na, Ca, K) in multiple simulated lung fluid (SLF) preparations and under varying experimental parameters (contact time and solid to liquid ratio). Data are compared to a standard water leach (WL) to ascertain whether the WL can be used as a simple proxy for SLF leaching. The main findings are: PTE concentrations reach steady-state dissolution by 24 h, and a relatively short contact time (10 min) approximates maximum dissolution; PTE dissolution is comparatively stable at low solid to liquid ratios (1:100 to 1:1000); inclusion of commonly used macromolecules has element-specific effects, and addition of a lung surfactant has little impact on extraction efficiency. These observations indicate that a WL can be used to approximate lung bioaccessible PTEs in an eruption response situation. This is a useful step towards standardizing in vitro methods to determine the soluble-element hazard from inhaled ash.

Citation

Tomašek, I., Damby, D., Stewart, C., Horwell, C., Plumlee, G., Ottley, C., …Leermakers, M. (2021). Development of a simulated lung fluid leaching method to assess the release of potentially toxic elements from volcanic ash. Chemosphere, 278, Article 130303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130303

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 11, 2021
Online Publication Date Mar 17, 2021
Publication Date 2021-09
Deposit Date Mar 19, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 17, 2022
Journal Chemosphere
Print ISSN 0045-6535
Electronic ISSN 1879-1298
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 278
Article Number 130303
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130303

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